Separator means for use in vertical filing systems



A. VOLK Feb. 10, 1942.

SEPARATOR MEANS FOR USE IN VERTICAL FILING SYSTEMS 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 3, 1938 Feb. 10, 1942. A. VOLK 2,272,685

SEPARATOR MEANS FOR USE IN VERTICAL FILING SYSTEMS Filed Dec. 3, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lnvemor ALfr eo\ Valk Alia/we Patented Feb. 10, 1942 SEPAKATOR MEANS FOR USE IN VERTICAL FILING SYSTEMS I Alfred Volk, Hechingen, Germany Application December 3, 1938, Serial No. 243,798 Germany December 4, 1937 19 Claims.

The present invention relates to separator cards in the form of filing covers for vertical filing systems in which the finding means consist of separator strips.

Filing systems having separator strips are already known and according to one of these known systems the separator strips are movably arranged upon bars or rails which extend in the longitudinal direction of the bottom of the filing box. The lower edge of the separator strips is, for the purpose of fixing the strips. provided with perforations or ,the like. The known filing system is opened by bending forwardly the upper projecting end of the desired separator strip, whereupon the recording material arranged behind said separator strip may be withdrawn.

The disadvantage of such a filing system is, that the separator strip, when released yields rearwardly and must again be bent forwardly, when reinserting the recording material previously withdrawn. These two operations are time-consuming and complicated and the operator must use both hands for withdrawing, and reinserting recording material in such filing systems. Moreover, the reinsertion of the recording material is rendered difiicult also by the fact,

that, due to the sepaiator strip being bent forwardly, the lower edges of the recording material arranged in front of the particular separator strip are pressed against each other or squeezed together, thereby rendering difiicult the insertion of new cards or the like.

According to another known arrangement of this kind the cardsjor the like are superposed in the manner .of fish-scales upon the bottom of a filing box and the rear side of same is provided with a .number of upwardly extending strips between which thecards or the like are inserted. Such an arrangement, .besides having the disadvantages mentioned above, has the further drawback, that the massof the inserted cards or the like presses upon the leaves superimposing each other on the bottom in the manner of fishscales, whereby, when oscillating the cards or the like drastic binding actions result. The desired close fit of the cards or the like against the separators, therefore, is impossible, because after insertion of the cards or the like the surfaces of the strips or separators occupy an inclined position with regard to the surfaces of the cards or the like.

Finally, filing systems having separators are well known in which the separators are nonswingably arranged upon rails, bars, or the like on which they are movable in the longitudinal direction or in the transverse direction.

Arrangements of this kind have the great disadvantage that the individual members .must necessarily be made of metal or another hard material, because otherwise a durable connection at the foot end is impossible. Furthermore, during oscillating movements binding and climbing phenomena result which when using strips of hard material very often cause notching effects at the lower edges of the inserted cards or the like. This is particularly true for the light leaves of loose leaf conto books which are used in all book-keepings operating on the copying system. As the cards mounted upon a transverse row occupy an inclined position due to their thickness, the separator strips do not closely fit the cards. Endeavors have already been made to obviate this inconvenience by slightly twisting the strips above the oscillating axis so that their surfaces coincide with the surfaces of the cards. This measure, however, has a partial success only, because the assimilation of the surfaces can only be calculated for a certain thickness of the cards which, of course, excludes the general use. A special disadvantage of these filing systems still, consists therein, that the rows of strips cannot be exchanged at all or after emptying the filing system only. This also is true for all the arrange-' ments known hitherto. The insertion of spare cards, often necessary in connection with alphabetical filing systems, thereby is rendered very diflicult. The usability is strongly limited also, because filing boxes, provided with rails or the like, are required, whereby the costs of the entire system are greatly increased.

The movability and exchangeability of the separator strips required in connection with alphabetically arranged filing systems has hitherto been rendered possible in an unsatisfactory and imperfect manner only. In filing systems in which endeavors have been made to solve this problem, cylindrically shaped members are provided at the lower edge of the strips which from above are pressed into resilient tubes provided at the upper portion with a longitudinal slot. The insertion into and withdrawal from the cylindrically shaped members in the interior space at the bottom of the filing box is rather inconvenient and, moreover, requires considerable consumption of power. These modifications have, moreover, the drawback that the strips in this arrangement necessarily must consist of metal or some other rigid material.

According to the invention the above mentioned the separator card the fact that one of the walls of the cover, preferably the rear wall, is subdivided in the form of separator strips, whereby in accordance with a further feature the cover is provided with a back capable of expansion and a certain zone of the lower portion of the separator strips fixed to the bottom of the cover is flexible.

The expansible back preferably is formed by pressed in bending grooves such as are customary in connection with file covers. The flexibility of the separator strip preferably also is rendered possible by providing a number of bending grooves side by side extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the also may be held together by means of a wire coil arranged in the bottom of the cover.

The bottom of the cover may be provided with notches or slits extending to the front wall of the cover and arranged in the prolongation or extension of the separator strips. The cover may also be so formed that one ofthe two outer separator strips is connected to a sheet which extends behind the remaining separator strips to the outer separator strip arranged at the opposite side and beyond the bottom of the cover. Said sheet being connected to the front wall of the cover serves as a support for the remaining separator strips.

A considerable number of cards or the like may be inserted into the cover according to the invention and yet a perfect close fit of the separator strips against the recording cards or the like is obtained without binding and climbing phenomena occurring.

The light strips, preferably consisting of cardboard, far better adapt themselves than strips consisting of hard material, because their surfaces exa ctly lie in the plane of the surfaces of the cards. The individual covers may easily be arranged side by side in a filing box and spare covers or the like may conveniently be inserted between other covers.

For the purpose of characterizing the cover in the filing box, the front wall of the cover, consisting of one piece, may be provided with a projecting index mark. The front leaf or wall of the cover, moreover, may be provided with rules extending vertically or obliquely for indicating the names of the account-holders. For marking the places of the separator strips, the upper edge of the front wall or sheet of the cover may be provided with a row of symbols which corresponds to the associated row of symbols of the separator strips.

The separator card is so inserted into the filing box that its wall, consisting of one piece, stands in front. Between each two separator strips a filing card is so inserted that the associated strip stands in front of the associated card or leaf.

strips. The parts of the cover The opening of a file cover is effected by first opening the wall of the cover consisting of one piece and carrying the head characteristics. If, for instance, the number I" is to be opened, the main index mark I" is first gripped. In a second operation only then the now'visible separator strip carrying the number I" is gripped. After drawing forwardly the desired separated strip, the latter is held in its adjusted position, even if the angle formed with the rear wall of the cover is very small only. This advantage is obtained by the fact that a certain zone at the lower edge of the strips is capable of being bent as well as by the connection of metal index marks to the flexible or pliable separator strips which are held in the opened position by the weight of the index marks acting in a forward direction.

The construction according to the invention is particularly adapted for carrying out bookina operations upon the account sheets outside of the filing box. Each individual cover may easily be withdrawn. conveniently put upon a table and individual book-keeping operations may so be carrled out. A further important advantage of the separator means or file cover according to the invention consists therein, that at the end of the year the file cover together with the cards or the like arranged in it may be filed away for which purpose the cover may be provided with perforaions.

The well known advantages of separators in form of strips with regard to separator cards consisting of a single piece which particularly are to be seen in the great economy in material and space are obtained with the subject matter of the invention in a most satisfactory manner. Besides the above mentioned advantages, the file cover or separator means according to the invention has, with regard to the hitherto known separator means used in filing boxes, the great advantage of cheapness in the manufacture and unlimited usability. This renders the separator means or the file cover of the invention superior to the known devices of this kind.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the cards or the like need not bear against the bottom of the cover itself, but may rest on special bridge members which are provided at the left hand and right hand side at the interior surfaces of the cover. By such a device it is rendered possible to still further increase the number of cards or the like to be inserted into the cover.

Such bridges either may be formed in each cover by suitable lateral supporting strips of cardboard, linen or similar material or by, side rails extending in the longitudinal direction of the filing box in a somewhat elevated position with regardto the bottom of the filing box and which are inserted in corresponding recesses at the lower corners of the cover.

Such a construction, moreover, has, as mentioned already, the particular advantage that a considerably greater number of cards or the like may be inserted in the cover than in case the individual cards or the like rest upon the bottom of the cover itself. The bridge members are expansible so that the space required in connection with covers provided with bridges exactly depends on the number of cards inserted.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the filing strips also may be displaceably arranged in the bottom of the cover. Such an arrangement has the further advantage that the exchangeabllity of the separator strips also is unlimited. The problem to firmly and safely connect the strips to the bottom of the cover at the one hand and yet to arrange them easily detachable and displaceable at the other hand, is

. solved in a particular suitable manner by arranging the connecting and guiding means of the individual strips outside of their oscillating axis. This is a fundamentally new arrangement, because in the constructions hitherto known the oscillating axis always forms the guiding means of the strips also. This separation of the bending axis and the point of guidance and connection has the effect that on. oscillation of the strips the guide means is not moved at all.

The separator strips may be guided and fixed in difierent manners as will be more clearly explained by way of example in the following specification:

According to a particular suitable modification of the above described device having displaceable separator strips, the strips may be across the bottom of the cover to the front wall of the latter and then extended upwardly and displaceably arranged in suitable guide means provided at the upper edge of the front wall of the cover. The strips arranged at the front side of the cover correspond to the separator strips lying in the interior of the cover and, therefore, may be provided with corresponding numbers and notes relating to the interior separator strip. Such an arrangement of visible strips, consisting of two parts, has the special advantage that the strips and covers need not substantially be higher than the inserted cards or the like and that nevertheless the whole filing system may clearly be watched and a sufiicient field of view for the index marks is available. It is also possible to arrange separator strips at the front side of the cover in special guides which do not form a direct prolongation or extension of the interior separator strip.

In the accompanying drawings some modifications of the invention are shown by way of example.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a separator strip constructed according to the invention as a cover and having an expansible back.

Fig. 2 shows a broken away view of a modified device with a cover similar to that illustrated in Fig. l,

Fig. 3 shows a modified construction having inserted bridge members,

Fig. 4 shows the displaceable arrangement of the separator strips in the bottom of the cover,

Fig. 5 illustrates a modified construction of the displaceable separator strips,

Fig. 6 is a cross section on line 8-6 of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7 is a cross section on line 1-1 of Fig. 4.

In all the figures parts corresponding to each other are designated by the same reference character.

In Fig. 1 the separator means has the form of recording leaves or cards inserted between the individual separator strips do not rest on the bottom of the cover. but on special bridge members which, either as shown in Fig. 2, are formed by lateral bridge rails O inserted in the filing box. or, as illustrated in Fig. 3, by special supporting strips I of cardboard, linen or similar material extending between the inner side edges of the two halves of the cover. According to the modification shown in Fig. 2, the left hand and right hand lower comers of the cover are provided with a recess I the dimensions of which correspond to those of the bridge member 6 in the filing box. Whereas the back 2 of the cover extends unto the bottom of the filing box, the filing cards, leaves or the like 0 bear upon the upper surface of the bridge rail The supporting strip 1 attached to the inner side of the walls of the cover forms, as shown in Fig. 3, a bridge Ill above the bottom of the cover which bridge also is provided with a number of bending or folding grooves so that it may easily an ordinary double-walled file cover consisting of cardboard, pressboard or other suitable flexible material. The front wall I, consisting of one piece, merges at the bottom of the cover into the back 2 which is rendered expansible by a plurality of bending or folding grooves.

The rear wall of the cover is subdivided into a number of small separator strips 3 which preferably extend somewhat beyond the upper edge of the front wall of the cover and may be provided at the head with index marks 4 or another protective edge. The two outer strips 5, 5 may be connected by a paper strip 35 extending behind the separator strips. Said paper strip 35 serves as a support for the separator strips and in the present case extends obliquely downwards from the upper edge of the outer strip 5 to the outer strip 5' and is continued to the bottom of the cover. The latter is provided with incisions 2' extending to the front wall I of the cover in the prolongation of the separator strips 3.

' According to a particular feature of the present invention the arrangement may be such that the adapt itself to the number ofcards, leaves or other recording means inserted into the cover.

In the embodiments shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the outer strips 5. 5' are omitted. The inner cover wall I is hinged to the outer cover wall II at 2. Separator strips 3 are inserted in back 2 in any suitable manner.

In the construction shown in Fig. 4, the separator strips 3 are individually inserted and their parts 3' are passed through the bottomof the cover around a rail l2, preferably consisting of metal, and extend to the upper edge of the front wall of the cover. The cross-section of the rail I2 is U-shaped and one of the shanks of the U is shorter than the other. This rail l2 simultaneously forms the guide for the displacement of the separator strips 3, 3' in the bottom of the cover. Th lower portions of the outer parts 3' of the separator strips 3 carry on the inner side small metal pieces l3 offset from the surface of the lower half of the separator strips which pieces are connected to the separator strips by means of bent over tongues l4. Ofiset portions I! of these metal pieces I3 engage the U-shaped groove of the rail l2, whereby the separator strips may, in a simple manner, be displaced on the rail to the left or to the right.

The upper edge of the outer parts 3 of the separator strips 3 is inserted into a kind of notch which is formed by attaching an U-shaped strip l8 of metal or other suitable material to the upper edge of the front wall of the cover.

A cover sheet of cardboard or the like forms a surface I against which bear the outer parts 3' of separator strips 3. In the modifications shown in Figs. 4 and '7 a guide rail I2 is attached to surface I by a tongue shown in dotted lines. The wall proper 2a of the cover forms the expansible back 2 and extends upwardly only to about half the height of the cover. Here, wall 2a is inserted by means of tongues l1 into slots I8, provided in the strips forming the bridge III on the right hand side of Fig. 4. Hereby, the mechanism allowing the displacement of the separator strips 3 is covered. A recess 8 is provided in wall is for engagement with rail 6 shown at the left hand end of Fig. 4.

According to the modification of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the guide means allowing a displacement of separator strips 3 consists of two strips i8, I 9 of sheet metal or similar rigid material secured to the inner surface of the bot tom of the cover. The outer edges of the cover are provided with recesses 8 to allow insertion of the rails 6 which serve as supports for the filing cards or the like to be inserted. The upper edges of the two sheet metal strips II and I! are connected by fabric strips 20 to support the ends of the filing cards.

Into the U-shaped lower edge II, I! of the two rails ii, I! bent upwardly towards the outer sides of the cover, two tongues 2|, 22 engage from above which are arranged in two oppositely directed bent oif flaps 23, 24 forming the lower portion of the separator strip 3.

With the aid of the just described device it is possible to easily displace the separator strips towards the left or towards the right. The separator strips are provided with bending or folding grooves 25 which allow a displacement of the bending axis of the separator strips in dependence on the amount of cards or the like inserted into the cover. The expansible back 2 is formed by a strip of cardboard folded in U-shape and covering the mechanism for displacing the separator strips. Said U-shaped strip engages with tongues 21, 21' in corresponding slots 28, 28' of the walls of the cover.

What I claim is:

1. A separator means for use in vertical filing systems, comprising a file cover. having a front wall consisting of a single piece, a rear wall subdivided into small strips forming individual separator strips, and an expansible back connecting said front wall to said rear wall, the side edges of said cover walls extendingbeyond both ends of said expansible back for the purpose of receiving supporting rails on inserting the file cover into a filing box.

2. A separator means for use in vertical filing systems, comprising a cover, having a front wall consisting of a single piece, a rear wall subdivided into small strips forming individual separator strips, an expansible back connecting said front wall to said rear wall, a pliable sheet connected to the end separator strips lying on the other edges of the remaining separator strips, said pliable sheet extending behind all said remaining separator strips and serving as a support for said separator strips, the side edges of said cover walls extending beyond both ends of said expansible back for the purpose of receiving supporting rails on inserting the file cover into a filing box.

3. A separator means for use in vertical filing systems, comprising a file cover having a front wall consisting of a single piece, a rear wall subdivided into small strips forming individual separator strips. an expansible back connecting said front wall to said rear wall and incisions in said expansible back in accordance with the subdivision of sa d rear wall, the side edges of said cover walls extending beyond both ends of said expansible back for the purpose of receiving supporting rails on inserting the file cover into a filing box.

4. A separator means for use in vertical filing systems, comprising a file cover having a front wall consisting of a single piece, a rear wall subdivided into small strips forming individual separator strips, an expansible back connecting said front wall to said rear wall, incisions in said expansiblc back and a pliable sheet connected to the end separator strips lying at the outeredges of the remaining separator strips, said pliable sheet extending behind all said remaining separator strips, the side edges of said cover walls extending beyond both ends of said expansible back for the purpose of receiving supporting rails on inserting the file cover into a filing box.

5. A record card separator means for use in vertical filing systems, comprising a cover having a frontwall consisting of a single piece, a continuous rear wall and an adjacent further rear wall subdivided into small strips forming individual separator strips, an expansible back connecting said front wall to said rear wall, said subdivided wall being inserted in said back; and

supporting strips arranged at both side edges of said front and said rear wall of said file cover, forming a support for th record cards lying above the back of said file cover.

6. A record card separator means for use in vertical filing systems, comprising a cover, having a front wall consisting of a single piece, a continuous rear wall and an adjacent further wall subdivided into small strips forming individual separatrr strips, an expansible back connecting said front wall to said rear wall, the side edges of said cover walls extending beyond both ends of said expansible back for the purpose of receiving record card supporting rails on inserting the file cover into a filing box, said separator strips being displaceable.

7. A record card separator means for use in vertical filing systems, comprising a cover, having a front wall consisting of a single piece, a continuous rear wall and a, further adjacent wall subdivided into small strips forming individual separator strips, an expansible back connecting said iront wall to said rear wall, and supporting strips arranged at both side edges of said front and said rear wall of said file cover, forming a support for the record cards lying above the back of said file cover, said separator strips being dlsplaceable.

8. A record card separator means for use in vertical filing systems, comprising a cover, having a front wall consisting of a single piece, a continuous rear wall and a further adjacent wall subdivided into small strips forming individual separator strips, an expansible back connecting said front wall to said rear wall, the side edges of said cover walls extending beyond both ends of said expansible back for the purpose of receiving record card supporting rails on inserting the file cover into a filing box, said separator strips being displaceable and being guided in a guide rail provided at the bottom of said file cover and extending at the front side of said front wall of said file cover to the upper edge oi said file cover.

9. A record card separator means for use in vertical filing systems, comprising a cover, having a front wall consisting of a single piece, a continuous rear wall and a further adjacent wall subdivided into small strips forming individual separator strips, an expansible back connecting said front wall to said rear wall, and supporting strips arranged at both side edges of said front and said rear wall of said file cover, forming a support for the record cards lying above the back of said file cover, said separator strips being displaceable and being guided in a guide rail provided at the bottom of said file cover and extending at the front side of said front wall of said file cover to the upper edge of said file cover.

10. A record cards separator means as set forth in claim 8, in which said guide rail is U-shaped and engages with tongues projecting from the inner side of an outer part of said separator strips.

11. A record cards separator means as set forth inclaim 9, in which said guide rail is U-shaped and engages with tongues projecting from the inner side of an outer part of said separator strips.

12. A record cards separator means as set forth in claim 8, in whichthe outer parts of said separator strips are slidably arranged in a second guide rail.

13. A record cards separator means as set forth in claim 9, in which the outer parts of said separator strips are slidably arranged in a second guide rail.

14. A record cards separator means as set forth in claim 8, in which said separator strips extend outside of said guide rail.

15. A record cards separator means as set forth in claim 7, in which said separator strips extend outside the connection of said separator strips to said supporting strips.

16. A record cards separator means as set forth in claim 6, in which the lower end ofeach separator strip is subdivided in two oppositely directed flaps, each engaging with a tongue in one of two U-shaped guide rails attached to the bottom of said file cover in'such a manner that the U-shaped portions of said separator strips are arranged opposite each other and extend towards the exterior.

17. A record cards separator means as set forth in claim 7, in which the lower end of each separator strip is subdivided in two oppositely di rected flaps, each engaging with a tongue in one of two U-shaped guide rails attached to the bottom of said file cover in such a manner that the U-shaped portions of said separator strips are arranged opposite each other and extend towards the exterior.

18. A record card separator means for use in vertical filing systems, comprising a file cover having a front wall and a rear wall, small strips forming individual separator strips, said strips extending over the entire length of said file cover, an expansible back connecting said front wall to said rear wall, said strips being attached to said back, and means to support the record cards above the expansible back of said file cover.

19. A record card separator means for use in vertical filing systems, comprising a cover, having a front wall consisting of a single piece, a continuous rear wall and an adjacent further wall subdivided into small strips, forming individual separator strips, said separator strips being displaceable, an expansible back connecting said front wall to said rear wall, and means to support the record cards above the expansible back of said file cover.

ALFRED VOLK. 

